Top stop attaching machine



p 26, 1950 A. G. NATZKE EI'AL 2,523,388

TOP STOP ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR5 p 1950 A. s. NATZKE firm. 2,523,388

TOP STOP ATTACHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1945 L I L P1950 A. cs. NATZKE ETAL 2,523,388

TOP STOP ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 q mATTNEY.

Sept. 26, 1950 A. G. NATZKE ETAL 2,523,388

TOP STOP ATIIACHING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Shet 4 5k r 1 zp/111 1111 Patented Sept. 26, 1950 To? s'ror faszasss v p vmomma-MACHINE esf mic-E1 j} sin-ea G.'-Natzke, John Willetts, andJohnFry k New York, N. Y.,- assignors to Lamar Slide Fastener Cor-11;,New York; --N. Y., a corporation of New-York Application June 18,345,Serial No. 600,068

This invention generally relates to the inanufacture of slide fastenersand more specifically tomechanisms for attaching top stops to the tapeof fastenerv stringers, at the end of the rows of fastening elements.

The general object-of theinvention isto provide a novela'nd improvedmachine of the character aforesaid, whereby strong top stops may besecurely clamped to the tapes of slide fastener stringers without damagethereto, themachine being particularly adapted for use with preformedtop stops of'the type comprising spaced parallel gripping jaws. v I

Another object of the invention is tov provide a machine of thecharacter described which is of comparatively simpleconstruction,dependable in use, capable of continued rapid operation, so arranged asto permit ready substitution of parts whenever required because "of wearor other causes, and suitable either formanual or power operation; .15.r; 1 'A further objectpiis to. provide a top-stop. attaching machineembodying novel-meansfor controlling and insuring-the supply ofpreformed top stops'and the feeding thereof to a fixedpositlon forsuccessive displacement therefrom to a position for clamping tothe tapeof fastener stringers, and novelmeans for effecting the transfer of thetop stops to the clamping position. v

.Itisa'lso an object of the invention to provide a' machine, embodying avertically reclprocable member from whichboth the supply and feedingcontrolling. mechanism and the means for dis-- Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional vie on line 3-3 of Fig. 5. c I Z Fig. 4 is afragmentary vertical sectional view similarto Fig. 3 illustrating theposition Of-a, top stop and elements of themechanism acting thereon atthe time of clamping of the top stop.

Fig. 5 isafront. elevation-of-the mechanism.

. Fig. 6 15a similar frontelevation showing the position of elementsofthe mechanism at the time of, clamping of the. top stop.

. Fig. 7 'is an enlarged cross-sectional:view on line. l'| of Fig. 5illustrating the structure of I the chute.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view,"

partly in section,- on line 8-18 of Fig. 5.

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line ofFig.5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 5illustrating details of the mecha-,

nism.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and "in the first place to Figs.1 and 2, it willbe seen that a machine according to the inventioncomprises a press adapted to be mounted onabench', or. v

the are, which embodies a supporting foot l0 and a standardextendingupwardly from the foot and terminating in a head l2 whichcarries a vertically Qreciprocable member 13. IIhereciprocation of themember l3 iseffected by'means;

of any suitable; mechanism .outside of the scope of =the1pre s'entinvention and not shown in the drawings, which. maybe actuated vthrough'a'ffootf ed or h ke. o iii p ier d. 1 ,suitab 'yi em nected for ower.lo'peration.

A member .or bloc l 4 is siiitably its e l p rtion late the',,1ower endoi theg.

member l3 for mom ocatioritherewith, and

formed with. an outwardly projecting portion 1 which is provided with-avertical pore-11; receiving the stem {of a down'wa'rdly" projecting,

clamping die 18 removably secured within -said bore. In the embodiment.illustrated, the die I8 is suitably shaped for clamping to the'tapeoffastener stringers top, stops 0f the type comprisi'ng' parallel "spacedjaws interconnected by a short yoke portion, saidtop stops being,conveyed to a predetermined position for action by the clamping die bymeans of :the mechanism hereafter described. y y

The portion ,20 of the block l4 opposite to. the die-carrying portionl6, carries a member 2|,

which projects downwardly in parallel spaced, jreg lation to theclamping die [8 andembodiesatit's lower end an inclined surface 22acting asa can 1" for .thepurpose that will become later a1 i 3rent seeparticularly Figs." 2 and 3) For thes'ake of. 1! I will be, hereafterreferred clarity, the member to as a (cam. member.

A base memb ,1: 24jis ret eat-gene i am mounted on the foot ..l.0 of themachine, 'asby, means of bolts 25;"be1 ow the" reciprocab 2 I4, and isprovidedwitha recess '26..(seeFi 3 and'4) adapted 'toljreceivefthe freeend of cam member 2i a'forernentioned.' v h e is. Per r a ir edi el i eaaaases smooth upper surface to which there is fastened, as by means ofscrews 23, a plate 38. Said plate is formed, in correspondence with therecess 28 of the base 24, with a rectangular aperture 3| which issomewhat wider than the recess so as to provide shoulders 32 underneaththe aperture 3i inwardly of the longitudinal walls of this latter. Theplate 30 is provided with a horizontal groove or guideway 34 having awidth only slightly greater than that of a top stop and extendingoutwardly from the aperture 3| in vertical aline-' ment with theclamping die II, the portion of the plate 30 extending below and beyondthe clamping die being of reduced height as shown at 35 to. define ashallow groove portion 36 the depth whereof substantially corresponds tothe, thickness of one of the gripping jaws of a top stop (see Fi s. 2 to4).

A plate 38 is screwed to the plate 30 inwardly of the die i8, and isformed with an integral ex tension 39 projecting into the groove 34 todefine with the bottom and side walls of this latter a passage sodimensioned as to insure that the top stops propelled therethrough inthe manner hereafter described will maintain the position shown in Fig.3. The inner edge of the plate 38 is laterally spaced relative to theunderlying edge of the plate 30 defined by the aperture 3| thereof, toleave exposed the end portion 40 of the groove 34 and provide anentrance for the top stops supplied thereto in succession, in the mannerlater described, for subsequent displacement to the clamping positiondirectly underneath the die IS. The plate 38 also carries a projectingpin 42 adapted to engage the upper jawof the top stops at the clampingposition, to prevent objectionable displacement thereof in'the shallowportion 33 of the groove 34.

The displacement of the top stops from the position of Fig. 3 to theclamping position is eflecied by means of a horizontally reciprocablemember 44 which may be designated as the top stop propelling member.Said member comprises a vertical element which projects into the recess25 of the base 24 and is formed with an enlarged head 45 extendingbetween the longitudinal walls of the aperture 3| in the plate 30 andslidably supported by the shoulders 32 defined as aforementioned. Thehead embodies a cam surface 46 engageable by the cam surface 22 of thecam member 3! and has a horizontal extension 48 in alinement with thegroove 34. Said extension is normally withdrawn from the groove toterminate adjacent the inner end thereof, and is adapted to engage anddisplace the top stops from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4 inthe forward movement of the member 44 caused by the action of the camsurface 22 on the cam surface 46 during the descent of the cam member2|. The member 44 is maintained in contact with the cam member 2| and isreturned to its initial position by a spring 50 associated with a stud52 and received within a bore in the base 24.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, during the downwardstroke of the block l4 carrying both the clamping die l8 and the cammember 2|, this latter will actuate the top stop propelling member 44and cause the same to move the top stop to the clamping positiondirectly underneath the die in which it will straddle the tape of afastener stringer placed upon the portion 35 of the plate 30 as shown inFig. 1, whereupon the top stop will be engaged by the die and its jawsclamped to the opposite faces of the tape. The die it is formed with agroove 54 which re- 4 ceives the pin 42 in the lowermost position of thedie, and the plate 30 may be provided with an abutment 55 as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, adapted to engage the end scoop of a stringer to insureproper spacing of the top stop relative to said scoop. The fastenerstringers may be fed manually or suitable automatic feeding means may beprovided if desired.

The mechanism for insuring constant supply of top stops through theentrance portion 40 of the groove 34 to the position of Fig. 3, forengagement by the propelling member 44, will now be described. Referenceis made particularly to Figs. 5 to 10.

A vertical stationary disc 60 is secured to the base 24, as by means ofscrews 8|, at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the recess 26.The

disc 68 is cut to define a portion 62 extending in juxtaposition to theplate 38 over the entrance end 40 of the groove 34. The front of thedisc is provided with a circular groove 64 adapted to accommodate thetop stops in a predetermined position, for sliding movement therealong,the end of said groove 34 in the disc portion 62' being in verticalalinement with the entrance end 40 of the groove 34 so that the topstops after traveling from a point of entrance through a portion of thegroove 64 forming a passageway in the disc (upper left quadrant) will befree to drop into the groove 34, to be successively engaged anddisplaced 'to the clamping position of Fig. 4 in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, during the operation of themachlne.

The top stops are admitted to the groove 64 through a radial opening ofthe disc which has associated therewith the lower end of a top stopconveying chute.

The chute. generally indicated at 68, comprises a blade 61 which isoperatively connected at its upper end and to a suitable hopperingdevice (not shown) adapted to deposit preformed top stops 68 of the typeaforementioned onto the blade with their jaws adjacent the oppositefaces of the blade and their yoke portion resting on the upper edgethereof. The blade 61 is suitably inclined to cause the top stops toslide therealong by gravity and has fastened thereto a plurality ofmembers 69 supporting a strip l0 disposed at a right angle to the bladeand sufliciently spaced therefrom to permit free downward movement ofthe top stops along the blade while retaining the same thereon (see Fig.7). The vertical lower end portion of the blade is secured, as at II. toa fixed member 12 carried by the disc and partially extends into theradial opening of the disc. The blade I is so curved as to direct thetop stops 68 into the opening 65 with their jaws in a vertical positionand extending toward the front of the disc 60 (see Fig. 8) so that thetop stops after travelling in the passageway formed by the groove 64 ofthe disc through an arc of approximately will enter the end 40 of thegroove 34 with their jaws in a horizontal position and their yokeportion adjacent the extension 48 of the propelling member 44, asillustrated in Fig. 3.

The top stops are maintained within the passageway by a cover plate 14removably secured to the disc 60, as by means of screws 15, andpreferably made of a transparent plastic material, as illustrated inFigs. 5 and 9.

Means are provided for controlling the rate of supply of the top stops68 from the chute 56 to the passageway and for facilitating the'feedingof the top stops therethrough to the entrance end 40 of the groove 34.

amaaea For this purpose, a shaft 18, freely mounted in the disc 88,carries for rotation therewith a sector 18 fastened to the enlarged endportion I8 of the shaft and juxtaposed to the front of the disc. Theshaft 18 projects rearwardly from the disc 88 to carry a lever 88fastened thereto. The lever has pivotally mounted at its free end, asshown at 8i, 9. vertical rod 82 passing through an opening 88 in abracket 84 which is fastened at 85 to the portion 28 of the block. i4and is therefore vertically reciprocable simultaneously with theclamping die i 8 and the cam member M. The rod 82 has fixed thereoncollars 88, 81 respectively located below and above the bracket 84, acoil spring 88 surrounding the rod 82 between the bracket 84 and thecollar 81.

The rear face of the sector 18 is formed with a projecting arcuate rib98 slidable within a portion of the groove 84 or the disc 68 (see Fig.10) and terminating in a tongue 9i projecting from the sector, asclearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In the inoperative condition of themachine to which there corresponds an uppermost position of the block I4 and bracket 84 shown for instance in Fig. 5. the spring 88 urges thecollar 81 and the rod 82 upwardly thereby maintaining the sector I8 inan angular position wherein the tongue 8i extends beyond the radialopening 85 of the disc groove 64 underneath the chute end (see Fig. 5)thereby preventing entrance of top stops into the passageway portion ofthe groove.

In the descent of the block i4 and associated elements, the bracket 84will engage the collar 86 of the rod 82 to depress the same andtherefore cause rotation of the sector 18 by an amount sufficient towithdraw the tongue ill from the opening 65 (see Fig. 6), therebypermitting supply of a top stop from the chute to the passageway, whilea top stop already in the groove 34 is displaced to the clampingposition and then clamped to the fastener stringer through the action ofthe cam member 2!, propelling member 44 and die it actuatedsimultaneously with the bracket 84.

The sector is is returned to its initial position of Fi 5 by the spring88 and the supply of top stops again interrupted during the upwardstroke of the block it and associated elements, the tongue 9i of thesector then engaging the last top stop received from the chute andurging the same away from the point of entrance. If, as is normal in theoperation of the machine, the passageway portion of the groove 64 issubstantially filled with top stops, all said top stops will be urgedtoward the entrance end 48 of the groove 84 by the action of the tongue8i, and movement of the lowermost top stop to the position of Fig. 3will be insured as soon as the extension 48 of the member 44 iswithdrawn from the groove 84 upon return of the member to its initialposition. It is therefore apparent that the supply of top stops iseflected at a rate corresponding to the rate of consumption thereof andthat gradual feeding of the top stops to the groove 34 is insuredthrough the operations of the sector 18.

The invention has been described and illustrated substantially withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof and to the use of top stopsof a specific character. However, it is understood the invention mayfind application in con nection with the clamping of elements other thanthe top stops illustrated, and that numerous changes and modificationsmay be made in the structures disclosed without departing from thespirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers, avertically movable clamping die, a fixed element, a substantiallyhorizontal guideway in said element, a. movable member actuable toengage a top stop positioned at one end of said guides-ray and to propelthe same through the guldeway to a position underneath said clamping diefor clamping by this latter to a slide fastener stringer, means foractuating said horizontally movable member in synchronism with theclamping die, a chute carrying top stops. an inclined passagewayconnecting said chute and guideway for conveying top stops from saidchute to said end of the guideway. and means operatively connected formovement in synchronism with said clamping die and periodicallyinterposed between said chute and passageway for controlling thedelivery of top stops to said passageway.

2. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers, aclamping die and a cam member mounted for simultaneous verticalreciprocation, a fixed element, a substantially horizontal guideway insaid fixed element, a reciprocable member actuable by said cam member toengage a top stop positioned at one end of said guideway and to propelthe same through the guideway to a position for clamping by the clampingdie to a slide fastener stringer, means for feeding top stops to saidend of the guideway and means operativeiy connected for movement insynchronism with said clamping die and periodically interposed betweenthe feeding means and the said end of the guideway for controlling thesupply of top stops to said end of the guideway at a rate correspondingto the rate of consumption by the clamping die of the top stops.

3. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers, aclamping die and a cam member mounted for simultaneous verticalreoiprocation, a fixed element, a substantially horizontal guideway insaid fixed element, a reciprocable member actuable by said cam member toengage a top stop positioned at one end of said guideway and propel thesame through the guideway to a position underneath said clamping die forclamping by this latter to a slide fastener stringer, means for feedingtop stops to said end, of the guideway, fixed means engaging the topstop at said position underneath the clamping die to preventdisplacement of the top stop during clamping, and means operativelyconnected for movement in synchronism with said clamping die andperiodically interposed between the feeding means and the said end of thguideway for controlling the supply of top stops into said end of theguideway. 1

4. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers, aclamping die and a cam member mounted for simultaneous verticalreciprocation, a fixed element, a substantially horizontal guideway insaid fixed element, a reciprocable member actuable by said cam member toengage a top stop positioned at one end of said 7 of delivery of thetofistops from the source of supply to said passageway. H

5. In a machine for attaching topstops to slide fastener stringers, aclamping die and a cam member mounted for simultaneous verticalreciprocation, a fixed element, a guideway in said fixed element, ahorizontally reciprocable member, actuable by said cam member to engagea top stop positioned at one end of said guideway and to propel the samethrough the guideway to a position for clamping by the clamping die to aslide fastener stringer, an inclined passageway registering with saidend of the guideway, a chute carrying top stops for conveying top stopsto said passageway, and means operatively connected with saidhorizontally reciprocable member and actuated in synchronism with thehorizontally reciprocable member for permitting delivery of top stopsfrom said chute to said passageway at each reciprocation of said member.

6. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers, avertically reciprocable member carrying a clamping die, a fixed plate, asubstantially horizontal guideway in said fixed plate,

a movable member embodying a portion in a1ine-.

ment with andextending to a point adjacent one end of the guideway inthe normal position of the member, a cam member carried by saidvertically reciprocable member effective in the downward stroke of thislatter to actuate said horizontally movable member to cause said portionthereof to engage a top stop positioned at said end of the guideway andpropel the same through the guideway to a position underneath theclamping die for clamping by this latter to a fastener stringer,resilient means for returning the horizontally movable member to itsnormal position during the upward stroke ofthe vertically reciprocablemember, means for feeding top stops to said end of the guideway andmeans operatively connected with said vertically reciprocable member andsaid top stop feeding means and interposed between said feeding meansand said end of the guideway for periodically supplying top stops tosaid end of the guideway.

7. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide bar carrying a clampingdie, a fixed plate, a guideway in said fixed plate, a horizontallymovable member embodying a portion in alinement with and extending to apoint adjacent one end of the guideway in the normal position ofthemember, a cam member carried by said vertically reciprocable membereffective in the downward stroke of this latter to actuate saidhorizontally movable member to cause said portion thereof to engage atop stop positioned at said end of the guideway and propel the samethrough the guideway to a position underneath the clamping die forclamping by this latter to'a fastener stringer, resilient means forreturning the horizontally movable member to its normal position duringthe upward stroke of the vertically reciprocable member, and

means for supplying top stops to said end of the.

guideway, said means comprising an inclined passageway registering withthe end of the guideway, a chute for top stops leading to saidpassageway and'a mechanism interposed between said chute and saidpassageway, operatively connected with and periodically actuated insynchronism with the vertically reciprocable member aforesaid forcontrolling ,the rate of delivery of the top stops from said chute tosaid passageway.

9. A machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringerscomprising a vertically reciprocable clamping die, a fixed element, aguideway in said fixed element, a horizontally reciprocable member forengaging a top stop positioned at one end 'of said guideway andpropelling the same through the guideway to a position underneath theclamping die for clamping by this latter to a fastener stringer, meansfor actuating said horizontally reciprocable member in synchronism withv the clamping die, a chute for top stops, an infastener stringers, avertically reciprocable memposition underneath the clamping die forclamp- 4 ing by this latter to a fastener stringer, resilient means forreturning the horizontally movable member to its normal position duringthe upward stroke of the vertically reciprocable member, a chute for topstops, an inclined passageway between said chute and said end of theguideway, and means operatively connected with said verticallyreciprocable member and interposed between said chute and passageway forperiodically delivering top stops from the chute to said passageway insynchronism with said vertically reciprocable member at a ratecorresponding to the rate of consumption of the top stops by theclamping die.

8. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers, avertically reciprocable memclined passageway between the chute andguideway for conveying the top stops from said chute to said end of theguideway, an oscillatingly movable member normally isolating said chutefrom said passageway, and means operatively connected with saidhorizontally reciprocable member for periodically displacing saidmovable member from the normal position thereof in synchronism with theactuation of the horizontally reciprocable member to permit periodicaldelivery of top stops to the passageway.

1-0. A machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringerscomprising a vertically reciprocable clamping die, a fixed element, aguideway in said fixed element, a horizontally reciprocable member forengaging a top' stop positioned at one end of said guideway andpropelling the same through the guideway to a position underneath theclamping die for clamping by this latter to a fastener stringer, meansfor actuating said horizontally reciprocable member in synchronism withthe clamping die, an inclined passageway registering with said end ofthe guideway, a chute for delivering. top stops to the upper end of saidpassageway, a movable member having a portion normally extending intothe upper end of the pas-t sageway to isolate the chute therefrom, andmeans operatively connected with said horizontally-reciprocable memberfor oscillatingly displacing said movable member to withdraw saidportion thereof from the upper end of the passageway at eachreciprocation of the horizontally reciprocable member aforesaid.

" 11. A machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringerscomprising a vertically reciprocable member, a clamping die carried bysaid vertically reciprocable member, a fixed plate, a guideway in saidplate, a horizontally reciprocable member actuable to engage a top stoppositioned at one end of said guideway and propelling the same throughthe guideway to a position underneath the clamping die for clamping bythis latter to a slide fastener stringer, means for actuating saidhorizontally reciprocable memberin synchronism with the clamping die, achute, an arcuate passageway for conveying top stops from said chute tosaid end of the guideway, a pivoted member having a portion normallyextending into said passageway to isolate the chute therefrom, and meansactuated from the vertically reciprocable member aforesaid for rotatingsaid pivoted member to withdraw said portion thereof from the passagewayand permit delivery of top stops thereto.

12. In a machine for attaching top stops to slide fastener stringers,comprising a vertically reciprocable clamping die and means actuated insynchronism with said clamping die for engaging a top stop at a fixedposition and propelling the same to a position for clamping by theclamping die to a slide fastener stringer, a stationary element, a chutefor top stops, an arcuate passageway in said stationary elementassociated with said chute for conveying top stops therefrom to saidfixed position, a member pivoted on the sta- REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

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